Tobacco stripping stand assembly

ABSTRACT

A stand is provided having a guide slot on each end for receiving flanges on each end of a U-shaped tobacco curing rack for releasing a tobacco retaining bar on the rack upon insertion of the rack in the stand and with a stripping gate means for stripping tobacco from tines on the rack as the rack is removed from the stand.

United States Patent [191 McMillan [111 3,709,391 51 Jan. 9, 1973 [54] TOBACCO STRIPPING STAND ASSEMBLY [75] Inventor: Allen McMillan, Enigma, Ga.

[73] Assignee: Bomac Manufacturing Corporation,

Enigma, Ga.

[22] Filed: March 11, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 123,160

[52] US. Cl ..2l4/300 [51] Int. Cl....' ..A24b 1/06 [58] Field of Search ..2l4/5.5, 300; 294/55 [56] References Cited UNlT ED STATES PATENTS 3,430,555 3/1969 De Bruhl ..214/300 X Primary Examiner-Drayton E. Hoffman Assistant Examiner--Frank E. Werner Attorney-Mason, Fenwick & Lawrence [57] ABSTRACT A stand is provided having a guide slot on each end for receiving flanges on each end of a U-shaped tobacco curing rack for releasing a tobacco retaining bar on the rack upon insertion of the rack in the stand and with a stripping gate means for stripping tobacco from tines on the rack as the rack is removed from the stand.

5 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PAIENTEUJAN' 9 ms SHEET 1 UF 3 INVENT OR ATTORNEY-9 PATENTED JAN 9 I975 SHEET 2 OF 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEY-8 TOBACCO STRIPPING STAND ASSEMBLY This invention is in the field of agricultural harvesting and curing equipment and is specifically directed to a unique assembly for aiding in the removal of tobacco from a curing rack to greatly reduce the amount of labor required for such an operation.

Previously known tobacco curing racks have employed a construction in the form of a U-shaped main frame member having an elongated base portion from which end arm members extend from each end with a plurality of tines extending from the base portion parallel to the end arm members and upon which tobacco leaves are impaled for curing. The tobacco leaves are normally retained in position on the tines by means of a retaining bar extending across the ends of the end arm members spaced from and parallel with the main base member. The retaining bar is normally attached to the arm members by releasable coupling means of various designs and the procedure for removing tobacco from the curing rack followed in the past has required the manual removal of the bar followed by manual removal of the tobacco from the tines. This has been a time consuming and consequently expensive operation; however, prior to this invention no satisfactory substitute for the manual labor employed in this operation has been found.

Therefore, it is the primary object of this invention to provide a new and improved means for removing cured tobacco from a curing rack.

Obtainment of the object of this invention is enabled through the provision of a stand member of generally rectangular construction formed of end frame members connected by horizontally extending frame components with each end frame member including a vertically extending slot terminating adjacent a horizontal shelf formed by a plurality of horizontal frame members. The U-shaped tobacco curing rack is provided with guide flanges on each end extending perpendicularly from the outer face of each of the end arms and the guide flanges are received within the vertical slots for downward movement so that the curing frame can be moved downwardly to an unloading position at which a camming lug on each of the end frame members engages a spring plate latch plate which retains the tobacco retaining bar in position on the end of the arms. This engagement of the latch plates by the lugs automatically unlatches each of the latch members adjacent each end of the tobacco restraining arm to permit the bar to be released from each of the arms so as to be dropped from the curing rack.

A pivotal stripper member in the form of an elongated gate-like member is connected to each of the end frame components and is movable into a horizontal position in which a pair of tobacco stripper bars extend alongside and adjacent the main frame component of the curing rack. Subsequent movement of the curing rack upwardly causes the tobacco leaves to engage the stripper bars so that the tobacco is stripped from the tines as the curing rack is removed from the stand. The tobacco stripped from the tines remains on a horizontally extending shelf-like area of the frame stand and is in complete order for further handling.

A better understanding of the subject invention will be enabled from a reading of the following written description of the preferred embodiment and comparison of such with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the preferred embodiment and the manner in which a curing rack is initially moved onto the stand for enabling an unloading of the rack;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the rack partially positioned on the stripping stand;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a third step in the operation of the preferred embodiment in which the curing rack has been completely positioned in an unloading position and the tobacco retaining bar released;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the next step in the operation of the preferred embodiment in which the curing rack is removed from the stand;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along lines 66 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along lines 7-7 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along lines 8-8 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along the same lines as FIG. 8 but illustrating a part thereof in enlarged manner and in a different position.

Attention is initially invited to FIG. 1 of the drawings which illustrates the components of the preferred embodiment including an unloading stand 20 formed of first and second end frame members each comprising a front leg 22, a rear leg 24, a top frame member 26 and a bottom frame member 28. Each of the legs 22, 24 and frame members 26, 28 is formed of commercial metal angle members.

A rack guide and positioning means is provided inwardly of the end frame components 26, 28 and includes a vertically extending angle member 40 and an inclined angle member 42. Vertical angle member 40 extends between the top frame 26 and the bottom frame 28 and the inclined angle member 42 extends between the vertical member 40 and the top frame member 26 as clearly shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 7. Vertically extending angle members 40 each include a flange plate 44 along one edge extending outwardly and oriented in a vertical plane; in addition, a second flange plate 46 is provided on member 40 parallel to flange plate 44 to define a guide slot S (FIG. 7) for a purpose to be discussed hereinafter. The vertical flange plate 46 merges into a support flange 47 of the angle member 42 which also serves a purpose to be discussed hereinafter.

A tobacco stripper means in the form of a gate-like member 49 is pivotally connected to the rearmost ends of the upper frame members 26. The gate-like member 49 includes end frame members 50 connected by three longitudinally extending stripper bars 52,54 and 56.

The unloading stand is used in conjunction with a tobacco curing rack 60 (FIG. 4) comprising a U shaped main frame in the form of a base portion 66 and arm members 64. Arm members 64 extend perpendicularly from each end of the base portion 62 in a manner clearly illustrated in FIGS. 1,2 and 4. Base portion 62 is formed of a metal plate 66 and a pair of reinforcing square rod members 68. However, other constructions could be employed for the base member if desired. A plurality of tines 70 extend from the base member 62 perpendicularly therefrom and in parallel alignment with the end arms 64. A guide flange 72 extends perpendicularly from the arms 64 adjacent one edge of the arms for a purpose to be discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that each of the guide flanges 72 is of a thickness slightly less than the width of slot S.

Each of the arms 64 is provided with a notch 78 adjacent its outermost end for receiving a portion of a tobacco retaining bar 80 as shown in FIG. 4, for example. Retaining bar 80 includes a main box shaped channel member 82 dimensioned to be received in slots 78 and two side flanges 84 which abut against the extreme outer edge of the arms 64 adjacent each side of the notches 78. Tobacco retaining bar 80 is retained in position on the arms 64 by means of spring plate type latch members 90 each of which includes a protruding actuator portion 92 and a bar latching or holding surface 94 as shown in FIG. 9. The latching member 90 is biased inwardly to the left as viewed in FIG. 9 so as to extend the bar restraining surface 94 beneath the inner surface of channel member 82 as shown in FIG. 8 for normally holding the tobacco retaining bar 80 in position on the ends of arms 84. However, the latching members 90 can be moved to the right as shown in FIG. 9 for releasing the latch bar. Means for moving the latching member 90 to the right as shown in FIG. 9 comprises an actuator lug 100 mounted on each of the bottom frame members 28.

In operation, a worker supports the curing rack by manual engagement with the guide flange members 72 as shown in FIG. 1 for movement onto the unloading stand 20. The manner of support illustrated in FIG. 1 prevents damage to the tobacco leaves T which are impaled upon the tines 70 and are retained in position by the tobacco retaining bar 80.

The curing rack is dimensioned so that the guide flanges 72 can be positioned on the support flange plates 47 to be supported by these flange plates. After the curing rack is positioned on the support flange plates 47, the base portion 62 is pivoted upwardly (the entire curing frame is rotated counter clockwise as viewed in FIG. 1) into the position illustrated in FIG. 2 in which the guide flange 72 is in vertical alignment with the slot S. Subsequent downward movement of the entire curing frame is effected by the action of gravity so that the actuator portion 92 of the latch member 90 moves into engagement with the lug 100 to bias the latch 90 to the right as shown in FIGS. 3 and 9. Opening of latch members 90 releases the tobacco retaining bar 80 to fall downwardly in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3. However, the tobacco T is resting upon the horizontal frame members 30,32,34,36 and 38 and does not fall from the tines 70.

Following the unlatching of the tobacco retaining bar 80, the gate-like stripper means 49 is pivoted downwardly so that the stripper bars 54 and 56 lie on each side of the curing rack as shown in FIG. 6. Stripper bars 52,54,56 engage the uppermost tobacco leaves to prevent any upward movement thereof and the base portion 62 of the curing rack is manually lifted upwardly while the stripper bars are held in their horizontal orientation shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6. At this point, it should be noted that the gate-like stripper means can be provided on its forward surface with a latch for holding it in the horizontal position if desired;

however, it has been found that such is not normally necessary since the worker normally presses downwardly on this member when lifting upwardly on the base portion 62 of the U-shaped curing frame. In any event, the upward movement of the curing frame pulls the tines from the tobacco while the tobacco is being held by the stripper bars 52,54 and 56 so that the curing frame is completely removed in the manner illustrated in FIG. 4. Consequently, the tobacco remains deposited on the horizontal frame members 30,32,34,36 and 38 which constitute a planar support for the stack of tobacco. It should be noted that the tobacco is completely oriented and does not become disarrayed or'damaged by the removal of the curing frame.

' Moreover, it should also be noted that the subject invention entails a great deal less handling (and consequent damage of the tobacco) than has been the case in the past in which one worker has normally held the curing frame while another worker manually strips the tobacco leaves from the frame.

Many variations in the subject invention will occur to those skilled in the art; however, it should be understood that the spirit and scope of the invention is to be interpreted solely in light of the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. An unloading stand for enabling the rapid removal of tobacco from a curing rack of the type formed of a U-shaped main frame comprising a base portion having a pair of end arms respectively extending from each end and having tines upon which the tobacco is impaled and a tobacco retaining bar extending between the end arms for retaining the tobacco on the tines, said retaining bar being connected to said arms by latch means on the arms, said stand including guiding and positioning means into which said U-shaped frame is positionable for movement to an unloading position in said stand, said guiding means including a vertically extending slot which receives flange means extending from side faces of said arms for guiding downward movement of said U-shaped frame, latch release means being engageable with said latch means in response to movement of said U-shaped frame into said unloading position for unlatching said latch means to disconnect said tobacco retaining bar from said end arm, stripper means positionable adjacent said base portion of said U-shaped frame when said U-shaped frame is in its unloading position for engaging said tobacco in response to movement of said U-shaped frame from said unloading position to strip the tobacco from said tines whereby removal of the U-shaped frame from the stand results in complete removal of the tobacco from said curing rack and an inclined supporting member having a supporting surface extending adjacent said slot on each end of said stand at an angle with respect to said slot for supporting said U-shaped frame with the axes of said arms being inclined with respect to the horizontal plane prior to movement of said flange means into said slot whereby said flange means is movable into said slot by vertical movement of said base portion upwardly to cause the forward edge of said flange members to move into said vertical slot for subsequent movement downward to said unloading position.

2. The invention of claim 1 additionally including supporting means extending along the length of said stand for supporting tobacco after it is said tines.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said latch release means comprises lug means extending into the path of movement of an actuator portion of said latch means for engagement with said actuator portion of said latch means to move said latch means out of latching engagement with said tobacco retaining bar wherein said abutment means is positioned in substantially horizontal alignment with the bottom edge of said slot means.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said stripper means comprises a pivotable gate-like member having at least two longitudinally extending stripper bars movable to a closed position in which said stripper bars extend respectively along opposite sides of said U- shaped frame adjacent said base portion.

5. An unloading stand for enabling the rapid removal of tobacco from a curing rack of the type formed of a U-shaped main frame comprising a base portion having a pair of end arms respectively extending from each end and having tines upon which the tobacco is impaled and a tobacco retaining bar extending between the end arms for retaining the tobacco on the tines, said retaining bar being connected to said arms by latch means on the arms, said stand including a front leg and a rear leg on each end of said stand, a top frame member and a bottom frame member connected between said front and rear legs, a vertical member extending vertically between said top frame member and said bottom frame member with said slot being defined by first and second flange members extending from said stripped from vertical angle member, guiding and positioning'means into which said U-shaped frame is positionable for movement to an unloading position in said stand, said guiding means including a vertically extending slot which receives flange means extending from side faces of said arms for guiding downward movement of said U-shaped frame, latch release means being engageable with said latch means in response to movement of said U-shaped frame into said unloading position for unlatching said latch means to disconnect said tobacco retaining bar from said end arms, stripper means positionable adjacent said base portion of said U-shaped frame when said U-shaped frame is in its unloading position for engaging said tobacco in response to movement of said U-shaped frame from said unloading position to strip the tobacco from said tines whereby removal of the U-shaped frame from the stand results in complete removal of the tobacco from said curing rack and additionally including an inclined angle member extending between said vertical angle member and said upper frame member, an inclined flange comprising a supporting surface extending from said inclined angle member and merging into one of said flange members on said vertical angle member to provide a continuous guide surface into said slot whereby said U-shaped frame member is positionable upon said inclined flange for support to be subsequently moved into vertical orientation in alignment with said slot for vertical movement to said unloadingposition. 

1. An unloading stand for enabling the rapid removal of tobacco from a curing rack of the type formed of a U-shaped main frame comprising a base portion having a pair of end arms respectively extending from each end and having tines upon which the tobacco is impaled and a tobacco retaining bar extending between the end arms for retaining the tobacco on the tines, said retaining bar being connected to said arms by latch means on the arms, said stand including guiding and positioning means into which said Ushaped frame is positionable for movement to an unloading position in said stand, said guiding means including a vertically extending slot which receives flange means extending from side faces of said arms for guiding downward movement of said U-shaped frame, latch release means being engageable with said latch means in response to movement of said U-shaped frame into said unloading position for unlatching said latch means to disconnect said tobacco retaining bar from said end arm, stripper means positionable adjacent said base portion of said U-shaped frame when said U-shaped frame is in its unloading position for engaging said tobacco in response to movement of said U-shaped frame from said unloading position to strip the tobacco from said tines whereby removal of the U-shaped frame from the stand results in complete removal of the tobacco from said curing rack and an inclined supporting member having a supporting surface extending adjacent said slot on each end of said stand at an angle with respect to said slot for supporting said U-shaped frame with the axes of said arms being inclined with respect to the horizontal plane prior to movement of said flange means into said slot whereby said flange means is movable into said slot by vertical movement of said base portion upwardly to cause the forward edge of said flange members to move into said vertical slot for subsequent movement downward to said unloading position.
 2. The invention of claim 1 additionally including supporting means extending along the length of said stand for supporting tobacco after it is stripped from said tines.
 3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said latch release means comprises lug means extending into the path of movement of an actuator portion of said latch means for engagement with said actuator portion of said latch means to move said latch means out of latching engagement with said tobacco retaining bar wherein said abutment means is positioned in substantially horizontal alignment with the bottom edge of said slot means.
 4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said stripper means comprises a pivotable gate-like member having at least two longitudinally extending stripper bars movable to a closed position in which said stripper bars extend respectively along opposite sides of said U-shaped frame adjacent said base portion.
 5. An unloading stand for enabling the rapid removal of tobacco from a curing rack of the type formed of a U-shaped main frame comprising a base portion having a pair of end arms respectively extending from each end and having tines upon which the tobacco is impaled and a tobacco retaining bar extending between the end arms for retaining the tobacco on the tines, said retaining bar being connected to said arms by latch means on the arms, said stand including a front leg and a rear leg on each end of said stand, a top frame member and a bottom frame member connected between said front and rear legs, a vertical member extending vertically between said top frame member and said bottom frame member with said slot being defined by first and second flange members extending from said vertical angle member, guiding and positioning means into which said U-shaped frame is positionable for movement to an unloading position in said stand, said guiding means including a vertically extending slot which receives flange means extending from side faces of said arms for guiding downward movement of said U-shaped frame, latch release means being engageable with said latch means in response to movement of said U-shaped frame into said unloading position for unlatching said latch means to disconnect said tobacco retaining bar from said end arms, stripper means positionable adjacent said base portion of said U-shaped frame when said U-shaped frame is in its unloading position for engaging said tobacco in response to movement of said U-shaped frame from said unloading position to strip the tobacco from said tines whereby removal of the U-shaped frame from the stand results in complete removal of the tobacco from said curing rack and additionally including an inclined angle member extending between said vertical angle member and said upper frame member, an inclined flange comprising a supporting surface extending from said inclined angle member and merging into one of said flange members on said vertical angle member to provide a continuous guide surface into said slot whereby said U-shaped frame member is positionable upon said inclined flange for support to be subsequently moved into vertical orientation in alignment with said slot for vertical movement to said unloading position. 